MCSN: June 6, 2009

Watered down

Week 2 Recap

Thu, Jun 18, 2009

Diamond Kings' Jenny Pace sizes up a pitch last week

Torrential rains cursed Clarendon Park’s regularly scheduled games Saturday, causing 4 teams to play and 4 teams to stray.

The Diamond Kings (2-0) beat Moody & the Blowfish (1-1) 13-5 and rose to the top spot in MCSN standings. Knocking a combined 33 hits, both teams made sure thunder wasn’t the only sound cracking on the field.

Diamond Kings manager Rob Tong topped off the hit parade by slugging his first-ever out-of-the-park home run, and the league's first out-of-the-park home run this season. While some speculated that Tong was helped by under-the-counter contraband, he shrugged off the allegations.

“The league doesn’t have an anti-steroids policy yet so I took advantage of that loophole,” he said. “However, I don't think it really worked since the only thing that got bigger was my love handles.”

Along with Tong, teammate Robert Martinez earned player-of-the day status with a 'headfirst hook slide' into home plate, escaping the tag of Blowfish player Phil “Pa” Nelson to score.

This was Blowfish manager Ali Stolzenbach's first loss as a manager to a non-Michael Thate team. Last year, Michael Thate & Anthony Halpin's team went undefeated en route to the championship, with Stolzenbach's team finishing 10-3...all three losses at the hands of Thate's team, but beating Halpin's Bombers last week.

According to Blowfish manager Ali Stolzenbach, getting to home plate was a slippery process. “The game was a sloppy one…but we put forth a good effort in the rain and mud!”

Next up, the Smithereens took the Mt. Sinai Sluggers 9-3 in a short game which ended in the 5th inning due to weather. Although miserable conditions, Smithereens manager Mat Smith said he felt like a major-leaguer at its start.

“The game felt like opening day at Wrigley Field in April," he said. "It was 55 and raining.”

The Smithereens (1-1) held a slight lead for most of the game, and snapped into action in the bottom of the 4th, securing 5 homecomings in diamond town and the win. The game was called after the Sluggers (0-2) batted in the 5th inning.

Smith has high hopes for a less wet and more favorable outing this week.

“I don't think it really worked since the only thing that got bigger was my love handles.”

- Diamond Kings' Rob Tong on steroids following his first out-of-the-park home run

“We have been solid defensively and the batters are heating up. I believe that we are going to be a force to be reckoned with,” said Smith. “We had a pre-season scrimmage with [this week’s opponent] the Diamond Kings and won…I feel really good about our chances.”

League play was suspended for the rest of the day due to weather. Teams will cash in their rain checks later in the season and play as scheduled this week.